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Common reasons for a denial of workers’ compensation benefits

On Behalf of | Sep 30, 2020 | Workers' Compensation |

When people file claims for workers’ compensation benefits, they often do so because they have nowhere else to turn after an injury or illness keeps them from working. You may need those benefits in order to get medical care and to cover your bills. 

If you receive a denial, you may feel like you have no way to support yourself or meet your family’s needs. Thankfully, you have the right to an appeal. However, avoiding a denial in the first place is usually a better strategy. What are some of the more common reasons people’s workers’ compensation claims are denied?

The worker didn’t report the incident to their employer

You have an obligation to report a workplace incident to your employer when it happens. That way, they have internal records that corroborate your claims of getting hurt on the job. Obviously, this particular rule applies only to injuries and not to illnesses or repetitive motion injuries that may develop slowly instead of as the result of one traumatic incident. 

The claimant didn’t file the right paperwork

It’s also common for people to receive an initial rejection because they filed the wrong paperwork, made mistakes in their paperwork or did not submit appropriate documentation. 

The worker did not receive medical care or follow orders

In order to receive workers’ compensation, a worker has to receive a diagnosis and then comply with all necessary treatment to improve their condition. When a worker refuses to get care or continue treatments, that decision impacts both their prognosis and their medical outcome. 

If you worry about claiming workers’ compensation benefits or if the insurance company denied your initial claim, you may need help obtaining the benefits you’ve earned through years of hard work. Speak to an experienced attorney about your options.